Our daughter, Elenka, was born on July 8, 2025, and from the moment she arrived, she faced a battle that no child should have to endure. Born with a severe congenital defect, Elenka had a bladder without an anterior wall and a defect in her abdominal wall. It was a diagnosis no parent could ever be prepared for.
On the ninth day of her life, Elenka underwent a complex bladder reconstruction surgery, along with a posterior hip osteotomy. The surgery was life-saving, but it was just the beginning of the many trials she would face. After the procedure, Elenka spent 11 days in the intensive care unit, with nine of those days spent in a medically induced coma. The pain and fear we felt as her parents are beyond description, but we remained hopeful, clinging to the thought that she was a fighter, and she would get through it.
Once we were transferred to the surgical and urology ward, our journey continued for another week. For six weeks, Elenka’s tiny legs were immobilized in casts, allowing her body to heal properly from the surgery. Those six weeks felt like an eternity, but we were determined to be strong for our daughter.
When we finally brought Elenka home, we thought the worst was behind us. But fate had other plans. Just as we started to believe in the possibility of some normalcy, Elenka was hospitalized again—this time with urosepsis, a severe and life-threatening infection. Her condition was critical, and she required a blood transfusion due to dangerously low hemoglobin levels. During this stay, doctors also detected a blood clot in her jugular vein. As a result, Elenka still receives painful injections twice a day to manage this issue. Her hospital stay lasted another 17 grueling days, and once again, we found ourselves in a fight for her life.
Despite everything, Elenka continues to amaze us with her strength and determination. However, the road ahead is still long and filled with challenges. She faces more surgeries in the future, including a significant procedure scheduled for December 8, 2025, to remove a hernia and repair a prolapsed ovary. At just a few months old, Elenka is facing more than most of us will ever have to endure. But through it all, she has fought with a courage we could all learn from.
There are still many unknowns in Elenka’s future. There’s a risk that she may never be able to hold her urine on her own. She requires constant rehabilitation due to increased muscle tension, along with massages for post-operative scars. Every checkup and procedure means another trip to Gdansk, which is not only emotionally exhausting but also financially burdensome for our family. The costs of her treatment continue to mount, and we are doing everything we can to provide her with the care she needs, but we cannot do it alone.
This is where we turn to you. We are asking for your support, whether it be financial or through your prayers. Every donation, every act of kindness, and every thought of encouragement helps keep us going. Elenka’s journey is far from over, and we need your help to ensure she has the best chance at a healthy and fulfilling life. We wholeheartedly thank everyone who has already supported our brave little girl during this incredibly difficult journey. Your support means the world to us, and to Elenka.
Please help us continue to fight for Elenka’s health and future. Your generosity and love can make all the difference in her recovery.
From the bottom of our hearts, thank you for being part of Elenka’s journey.
